UTV's 'The Happening' rakes in 61.5 mn in three days

UTV's foray into the mainstream Hollywood with "The Happening", has paid good dividends to the production house by raking in $31.5 million at the US box-office.

Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, the sci-fi thriller that revolves around a family on the run from a natural crisis that presents a large-scale threat to humanity, was released June 13.

Quoting the box-office collection figure from the Hollywood trade magazine "Variety", UTV stated that "The Happening", its first major collaborative venture with 20th Century Fox, has performed well at the world box-office. It has earned a revenue of $31.5 million at the US box-office in the first three days of its release.

"The Happening" was made on a budget of $55 million.

This, despite the fact that the movie did not receive a very favourable review from the US media. In addition, it has garnered $30 million from the rest of the world from 5,600 prints.

In Britain, with a collection of $3.4 million from 389 prints in three days, the film has been ranked third at the box office chart.

UTV's earlier $8 million co-production with Fox, "Namesake" had grossed $18 million at the worldwide box-office and almost an equal amount from the home video and TV syndication.

Considering its theatrical performance so far, "The Happening" may be expected to do equally well in the home video market and also on TV syndication.